(Rochester, Minn) – The Rochester Honkers got three, two-run home runs from Ryan Fitzpatrick (Saddle Back College), Alex Fitchett (Hawaii) and Josh Davis (Pepperdine) to come defeat the Kalamazoo Growlers 9-8 at Mayo Field Thursday night to win their fourth game in a row.
The Growlers scored five runs in the second inning, but the Honkers came right back with a four spot in the bottom of the third, and they got two of them on Fitzpatrick’s two run shot, and another two on Fitchett’s two-run blast. The home runs made the score 6-5 after three innings of play.
The Growlers then scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings to bring their lead to 8-5. In the fourth Sam Griggs (Southern Indiana) hit an RBI single, and in the fifth David Hensley (San Diego State) hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 8-5.
The Honkers then put up four runs in the sixth, and it started with Davis’ two-run home run early in the inning. Turner Buis (Cal State Fullerton), who extended his hitting streak to 19 games, got an RBI on a fielder’s choice to tie the game at 8. Fitzpatrick then hit a RBI single to score Miles Lewis (North Dakota) to give the Honkers a 9-8 lead.
Brett Herber (1-0) (Winona State) pitched the final four innings in relief to get his first win of the season; he allowed two hits, walked two and struck out two. Houston Glad (NE Oklahoma JC) got the start for the Honkers; he pitched five innings, allowed eight runs, seven of them earned, on 10 hits and walked two.
Trey Ganns (Northern Kentucky) got the start for the Growlers; he went five innings, allowed seven runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out five. Grant Schneider (0-2) (Arizona State) took the loss for the Growlers; he went three innings, allowed two runs on three hits, walked four and struck out three.
Fitzpatrick led the Honkers by going 3 for 5 with three RBI and a run scored, while Lewis went 2 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored.
Dan Robinson (Central Michigan) went 3 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored to lead the Growlers, while Hensley went 2 for 3 with three RBI and a run scored.
The Honkers move to 4-5 in the second half and 11-33 overall, while the Growlers fell to 4-5 in the second half and 24-21 overall.
The Honkers finish out their home stand tomorrow night against the same Growlers team on Scout Night! First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6! The Honkers will then travel to St. Cloud to battle the Rox on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s first pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. and Sunday’s first pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. The Honkers will then hit the All-Star Break! Turner Buis and Alex Fitchett are headed to Kenosha, Wis. as Buis will play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, while Fitchett will hit in the Home Run Derby at the Harbor on Monday night.
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The Rochester Honkers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rochesterhonkers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Honkers as your favorite team!
